The Governor enclosed in his letter the State's formal comments objecting to the ACE proposal as part of the public comment period, which closes today. The State submitted formal comments objecting to the SAFE proposal on Friday, the final day of the public comment period for that proposed rule.

The Trump Administration has launched an all-out assault on our environment that is endangering New Yorkers. In the last seven days alone, New York State — along with thousands of others — have commented on two outrageous proposals from the Trump Administration designed to prop up the dying fossil fuel industry while threatening critical environmental protections and public health - the SAFE proposal and the ACE proposal. The Trump Administration is once again taking a huge step backward in our fight to protect our citizens, our economy, and our future.

The misnamed "SAFE" proposal is anything but safe for the American public. By proposing to roll back critical vehicle emission standards intended to combat climate change, current and future generations of Americans will bear the brunt of increased wildfires, droughts, extreme heat, and unprecedented extreme weather events. In addition, the Trump Administration's rush to support the oil industry by means of the SAFE proposal is an attempt to block New York, California, and other states from continuing our proven methods that protect the environment, reduce consumer costs, and safeguard our citizens from the worsening effects of climate change and harmful air pollution.

The so-called Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) proposal will gut the Clean Power Plan and leave devastating impacts to public health and the environment. The EPA is doubling down on unsafe and unaffordable actions that increase the dangers of climate change and harmful pollution from coal-fired power plants. This proposal will put New Yorkers and all Americans at risk. Instead of living up to its name and responsibility to protect the environment, the EPA is proposing an action that would increase emissions of the greenhouse gases that cause climate change, forego billions of dollars in benefits, and result in hundreds of premature deaths.

While the Trump Administration actively pursues opportunities to promote the fossil fuel industry over people and the environment, New York will continue to lead the fight against climate change and demonstrate a better way to protect our nation, our economy and our environment, both today and in the future. In New York, we have committed to reducing emissions 40 percent by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050. Through our Clean Energy Standard, we have adopted the most comprehensive and ambitious clean energy mandate in the state's history, requiring that 50 percent of electricity in New York comes from renewable sources by 2030. Through our participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, New York has proven that it is possible to reduce harmful pollutants from power plants by more than half, all while decreasing energy bills and creating thousands of jobs. And we are creating a low-carbon transportation system by investing hundreds of millions of dollars in supporting the transition to electric vehicles.

New York will continue to look forward to the future, invest in renewable energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors, increase the resiliency of our communities, and do all we can to safeguard future generations from the worst effects of our changing climate. Our nation should be leading the global response to climate change, not compounding the problem.

Sincerely,

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

Last Updated: 10/31/2018

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NYSERDA offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and support to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. A public benefit corporation, NYSERDA has been advancing energy solutions and working to protect the environment since 1975.